Pura Vida Ministries

A Legacy of Gratitude

1/16/2025

by Mark Ely, Executive Director

On Friday, January 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM (New York time), a Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated for Sister Helen Werner. The Mass will be livestreamed here:
https://www.maryknollsisters.org/livestream/

In photos: Sister Helen and Pura Vida

It turns out I wasn’t just there for the cookies and lemonade. Or the home-made chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Or the shower with actual hot water. Those were certainly nice, but there was something deeper going on, although I didn’t know it at the time.

It took months of living in the new orphanage in Lemoa for me to find my way to the Maryknoll Contemplative Community just down the street. That I didn’t discover it earlier is a tribute to a single-minded focus on figuring how I could best help the community on my own. The day Sister Helen walked into the orphanage I had no idea that my mindset would soon change completely.

Sister Helen and co-worker Lilla took me under their wing. I went from occasional meals with them to lodging in one of their spare, almost monastic cells facing the plaza. I integrated in some of their daily activities (except for the rising at 4 AM part). Their sense of peace began to rub off on me.

I was still determined to do something. But now instead of trying to work things out on my own, I had Sister Helen to gently guide me. She knew everyone in Lemoa, and had some ideas for partnership. She introduced me to the teachers at the local elementary school. She provided some scholarships there, and the teachers suggested that more scholarships would be a good thing.

I'll let Sister Helen take it from here:

Mark Ely [ ... ] was volunteering in the Methodist Orphanage in Lemoa. He heard that there were American Sisters living in the town and came to ask if he could stay with us for a week. The orphans were at him all day long and all he got to eat was rice and beans three times a day. We said “YES.” And 25 years of collaboration and friendship followed.

Mark was looking for ways to help the Guatemalan people. He liked the idea of providing scholarships. I introduced him to the Directress of the school and the sixth grade teacher. His program took root and more than 400 students are receiving scholarships and each relate personally to their sponsor.

From The Call to Complete My Mission in Lemoa ~ Sr. Helen Werner
May 2021 ~ Regional Meeting in Guatemala City

I only wish I could delegate half as effectively as Sister Helen did in this one instance. Our scholarship program was born in that meeting at the Lemoa Elementary School. Over the years roughly 1,000 students have participated. Students whose parents never went to school are now graduating from university.

Some memories:

Trying to keep up with Sister Helen when she raced up the steep hill from the main road
Having my morning tea and toast with her, even though she had been up for hours by then
Village kids ringing the doorbell during dinner, and Sister Helen always ready to answer, even in mid-bite
A refrigerator full of used Sarita ice-cream containers (Guatemalan tupperware)
The world-class pineapple upside-down cakes she made when I later visited from the States (she gave me the recipe, but it’s just not the same)
Celebrating Sister Helen’s birthday with her at our temporary home on Lake Atitlan
Not least, having my worldview blown out of the water by a humble nun living simply with gratitude

Much of our philosophy is based on Sister Helen’s thoughtful and community-minded approach. Over the last 20 years we have brought hundreds of volunteers to hear that from her first-hand. I hope some of the peace and gratitude she exuded rubbed off on them, too.

For a brief biography of Sister Helen, please see A Joyful Contemplative by Sister Bernice Kita, M.M.

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Sister Helen Werner, 1/5/1920 - 1/10/2025

1/14/2025

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We are sad to report the passing of Sister Helen Werner. We will be following up with a special tribute, but in the meantime please enjoy this short, well-written biography written by Maryknoll in 2022: A Joyful Contemplative

From the Maryknoll Contemplative Community today:

Our very dear Relatives and Friends of our Sr. Helen,

This brings our loving and prayerful greetings to each of you. Our dear Sr. Helen Werner’s Wake is planned for Thursday, January 23, at 4:15 p.m., in the Main Chapel of our Maryknoll Sisters Center, 10 Pinesbridge Road, Maryknoll, New York 10545. At the Wake there will be an opportunity for anyone who wishes to share any thoughts on Sister Helen’s life and presence.

The Mass of Resurrection for Sr. Helen will be Friday morning, January 24, at 10 a.m., in our Maryknoll Sisters Main Chapel. It will be on live-stream for those who are not able to come. We will be sending you the link a few days before January 24.

We would appreciate knowing if you are planning to come for the Wake and/or Mass of Resurrection for Sr. Helen. Because of limited accommodations at this time, we regret that we are not able to offer overnight accommodations at Maryknoll.

Someone has asked about sending flowers, and we would like to suggest instead sending a donation for our Maryknoll Sisters Nursing Residence, where Sr. Helen so enjoyed her life these past years since leaving Guatemala.

Looking forward to being with you on January 23 and 24, in person or on livestream on January 24. We regret the Wake is not on livestream. Should you wish to share any memory of Sr. Helen, and are unable to come, please just email your message and we will share it at the Wake.

Your loving and prayerfully grateful,

Sr. Theresa for the Maryknoll Contemplative Community

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2024 Guatemala English Camp

9/16/2024

by Briana Kneisl

On July 4th, eighteen people from various backgrounds and states traveled to Guatemala to share Christ’s love and peace through Pura Vida’s English camp and construction work teams.

Upon arrival in Antigua, we spent time at a filtration plant learning about the importance of clean water. This is a simple privilege we experience that people in Guatemala do not always have, and Ecofiltro helps families have access to that. This got me -- and others --- thinking how difficult it is to learn and find peace when basic needs for survival remain unmet. It was uplifting to see how Pura Vida was helping with that. We explored the completed home for the family of Isaias and Juana and heard of all the hard work being done by the construction team to build another home for an additional family!

Later, the team traveled to Chichicastenango, and that’s when English camp began. It lasted four incredible days. Each day began with us seeing the students smile and wave as they arrived on their bus and ran to their classrooms. Every day was more meaningful than the last as we could see the students learning and forming connections with the teachers. We had wonderful leaders who spent countless hours preparing resources and games to help the kids learn English, and we could see that effort pay off in each of the students' smiles. It was fulfilling to see the students' faces light up as they were learning and having such fun in doing so!

On the last day of English camp we held a ceremony and handed out certificates of completion. We learned ceremonies are important in Guatemalan culture, and it was easy to see why. The ceremony ended with laughter and hugs. Selfies were a wonderful bonus!

At the end of each day, the classes would circle up together and sing, “Go Now in Peace.” The lyrics of the song include, “May the love of God surround you wherever you may go.” I think that is a perfect example of what this English camp is all about, and it will always remain a fond memory for me.

My heart lights up with joy reflecting on the time spent in Guatemala. Sharing English and building homes is a remarkable way to come together to help build useful skills, provide basic needs, and empower others. This experience is just as impactful for us volunteers as it is for the people we were serving, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to grow and share with such amazing people!

As the song goes… “Go now in peace!” :)

Why Education?

7/16/2024

by Mark Ely, Executive Director

Our scholarship program is the centerpiece of our work in Guatemala. Everything we do is designed to drive attention and resources towards this program, which we view as the most effective and long-term method to empower the people of Guatemala to design their own future.

There is general agreement in the development community that increased access to education correlates highly with:

Better health
Improved living conditions
Greater food security
Increased community involvement and leadership
Greater civic engagement
Greater capacity for critical thinking
Less economic hardship
Improved job prospects
Later marriage and childbirth
Fewer children
Education prioritized for children

These outcomes are organic, not engineered -- they simply happen with more education. Our job is to provide improved access to education, at the request of the Guatemalan people. With this approach we find little need to spread ourselves thin creating additional programs to achieve outcomes which education already addresses at the most fundamental level. This is what makes our scholarship program such a compelling focal point for Pura Vida. The program is much more powerful than it appears on the surface.

Pura Vida has a long history of not imposing our own will on the people of Guatemala and avoiding cultural modifications of any kind. This can raise the possibility of an occasional disconnect with donors expecting a more top-down approach. The reality is that North American culture can create expectations that don't always align well with rural Guatemalan culture. As a specific example, we do hear from some donors who value financial reward in the job market as the primary indicator for success.

That indicator has several things going for it: it's quantifiable, easy to report on, and is in sync with cultural expectations in the U.S., where most of our donor base resides. The problem is that it may not be an accurate measure of what our friends in Guatemala consider success. This can cause a gap between donor expectations and Guatemalan expectations. Whose definition of success do we use? It is an interesting line to walk.

Our focus has always been on helping our beneficiaries make a life more than just a living. While we know that education tends to improve job prospects, we need to remember that rural Guatemalans prioritize work differently. They don't seem to define themselves by their productivity as North Americans famously do. When our students are asked about how Pura Vida has contributed to their success, we don't hear about how much money they make or how many hours they work; they focus instead on their family and community, pride in their occupation, and the fact that we let them pursue the field of their choice.

We think it's worth the effort to help prospective donors deeply understand these cultural differences. I welcome the opportunity to talk with anyone who would like to explore this further.

Are we making a difference?

2/21/2024

by Charlie Bouchard, Pura Vida board member

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit”
-- Reshma Patel

This year the team from FUMC Loveland joined with the Betts' Vets crew led by Jon Schmidt to work on two home sites. Great work was completed on both sites. The Loveland team worked on completing the second half of a home, while team Schmidt went from the ground up to complete the bottom half of another build. As in years past, we left a small physical imprint for the betterment of those in rural Guatemala, while those in Guatemala left an enormous impression on the hearts of all team members. We set out to give, and received so much more in return. This year we had the added bonus of veterans being a part of our trip. It is safe to say that it was mutually beneficial to all.

Often on these trips, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the need and wonder if we are making a difference - hence the opening quote. On this trip, our old friend Raul joined us on his own time (a four hour round trip from his town), to work for a day with us. I took advantage of the opportunity to ask him the question - “Are we making a difference?”

Raul commenced to tell me that in 2001 he was an 18 year old unqualified interpreter. In his town, the school had over 100 students with two teachers and two rooms. Each teacher taught two grades in the same room, with half the class facing one way, while the other faced the other way. Today, there are over 1000 students in the school with a teacher for each class. He emphasized that the government does nothing to help, and the improvements have everything to do with volunteers working hard in his community.

What Pura Vida is doing in the Lemoa area is similar, as all those who visited the John Wesley School can attest to. It is like a water drop falling into a pond - the ripples continue for a long way. We are helping house and educate tomorrow’s leaders and that is a long term game. We may never sit under the shade of the trees we plant, but be encouraged that profound differences are being made in lives in Guatemala as a result of the work being done.

Many thanks to all who participated and the great leadership we had on our teams.

FUMC Loveland/Longs Peak UMC Work Trip

3/25/2023

by Rev. Lee Anderson-Harris

February 2023 was the return of in-person work trips for First UMC Loveland, and it was good to be back! This year we were delighted to join with Longs Peak UMC in nearby Longmont, as well as a few folks who don’t attend either church.

Altogether we had a large enough group to split into two work teams and work on two different houses. However, there was another plan for us: due to the passing of the mother of the recipient of one of the homes, we combined teams for a couple of days. While we shared in the grief of this family, we found that this unplanned combination of teams was just what we needed.

Together we were able to accomplish far more work than we would have otherwise. We were able to form long chains to move building materials up the hill at both sites. As we traded spots to relieve one another from a difficult position, or chatted and laughed as we passed heavy objects to each other, I got the sense of how much we depended on one another. And not just us travelers; the construction crew, translators, drivers, families we were serving…I was struck by the true interdependence of all of us.

This theme carried out during our visit to the nutrition center to pass out milk and our visit to the Rosario School as well. I was moved to tears of joy by hugs, words of gratitude, children’s performances, and the kids’ eagerness to help or show off their school projects. It was a reminder of how much we need each other.

We worked hard on this trip, and we traveled hard. I was exhausted when I returned. But I made new friends, got to know people even better than before, and laughed a lot. Words are insufficient to describe the blessing of Guatemala and of a Pura Vida work trip.

Returning to Guatemala

4/4/2022

by Mark Ely

In March, 2022 a small group from the Pura Vida Board of Directors visited our local staff, volunteers, and projects in Guatemala. One of our goals was to assess conditions for resuming group trips. From talking with business owners who rely on tourist trade, we learned that groups are just now beginning to return to the country. So we appear to be on a good timeline.

So when can bring groups to Guatemala again? Our main concern is how groups will be received by the local population. The pandemic is still very much a concern in Guatemala, and masks are still required by law. Our local staff has been vaccinated, but many are still extremely wary of catching the virus. Some of the families that we work with are not vaccinated due to cultural and personal reasons.

Tomasa and her family, March 18, 2022

On the other hand, the local medical facilities are no longer overwhelmed as they were before. Restrictions on travel and group gatherings have been reduced. And there is definitely interest in having our groups return.

Still, travel to Guatemala is logistically more complex than before. Testing and vaccination requirements have added new variables to the equation. We expect the situation to evolve as caseloads and restrictions in the U.S. and Guatemala change.

With this in mind, we have drawn up guidelines for potential team members traveling to Guatemala. If you are interested in traveling to Guatemala with us again in the near future, please review these requirements carefully. Then please contact us so we can get an idea of potential trip sizes.

Thanks for your interest, and for your patience as we navigate a rapidly changing landscape.

July 18, 2022: Modification of Guatemala Team Member Guidelines

September 12, 2022: Modification of Guatemala Team Member Guidelines

Guatemala Work Trip Update

12/20/2021

by Mark Ely

As we close out 2021, I wanted to share with you our thoughts on resuming in-person work trips to Guatemala. Specifically, this is a review of the current situation and recommendations from the key decision-makers, Asociación Pura Vida (our local NGO in Guatemala), and the board of directors of Pura Vida Ministries.

Highlights:

At least in some areas of Guatemala, the infection rates are dropping
Vaccination rates in urban areas are increasing
The government is hopeful that schools will upgrade to a hybrid in-person/virtual schedule in 2022
Older residents in rural areas are still resistant to the idea of vaccination

On one hand, there are organizations which sent teams even at the height of the pandemic. On the other hand, some well-regarded organizations including Compassion International and World Vision have not yet restarted trips. Having worked for Compassion International myself, I can vouch for their Christ-centered, child-focused approach.

Do no harm

So what’s the hold up? For us it boils down to a basic risk/benefit analysis. The benefits of sending a team to Guatemala should outweigh the risks. And our top priority is to do no harm.

Another factor is self-determination. We feel that it’s important that our local staff determine when it is appropriate for us to return. Unlike a volunteer surgical or dental team, our work does not require us to be there in-person, so the pressure to resume trips is lower for us.

Our local staff in Guatemala is the reason we’ve been able to get all of our work done without anyone having to travel from the U.S. In 2021 we built a record number of 5 homes, using only local labor. Local Guatemalans are our hands and feet right now.

We understand that sponsors would love to reconnect with their students in person. What a great testament to the power of the relationships created through our programs! We hope to make these visits happen soon, once they can be done safely.

Current risks to resuming trips

1. Risk of infecting the vulnerable population we serve

The Guatemalan government has been pushing vaccination, but many older rural residents are distrustful. This is due mainly to widespread disinformation and a general lack of confidence in the government. Although younger family members are more open to the idea, our staff does not expect a high vaccination rate among the older rural population.
The population in the areas where we work often suffer from the following preconditions which make a COVID infection more dangerous:
- Malnutrition
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Respiratory disease due to smoke inhalation
According to the CDC and the Mayo Clinic, even fully vaccinated travelers could be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some COVID-19 variants [ 1 ] [ 2 ]

2. Increased risk to team members

Difficulty in evacuating sick or injured team members to the U.S. if the required COVID test is not passed
Possibility of team members having to quarantine in Guatemala if they test positive prior to returning home. Here are the latest U.S. re-entry requirements from the CDC:
Starting on December 6, air travelers aged two and older, regardless of nationality or vaccination status, are required to show documentation of a negative viral test result taken within one day of the flight’s departure to the United States before boarding. You must show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight. That includes all travelers – U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), and foreign nationals. [ 3 ]

I am hoping to finally travel to Guatemala in early 2022 to check on things before bringing groups into a potentially tricky situation. It’s been two years since I’ve met with our local staff in person. We're also curious as to what tourist/travel infrastructure has survived the pandemic. When work trips resume, they may look very different than those of the past.

We will let you know when we get the go-ahead. Thanks for your patience.

COVID-19 Update - August, 2021

8/13/2021

by Mark Ely

Guatemala is currently experiencing one of the strongest waves of COVID-19 infections since the beginning of the pandemic. The government is reporting over 4,000 new cases per day. Hospitals are filling up, and some say that they could soon stop receiving all types of patients due to this situation.

Most of the country is now in red alert status, which carries significant restrictions on travel, commerce, and other activities. For us, one of the most important restrictions is in the area of education. In-person classes are not permitted in areas under red alert status.

COVID-19 Alert status in Guatemala

State of Emergency Declared

In a speech on August 13th, the president of Guatemala declared a state of emergency for 30 days due to a rebound in cases attributed to the “more aggressive” Delta variant. Impacts include:

Nationwide curfew from 10 PM to 4 AM
Unspecified restrictions on large gatherings
Surveillance of borders, ports, and airports by the Guatemalan military
Full list of restrictions

Vaccination Schedule

Guatemala is significantly behind the rest of Latin America in vaccination rates. The overall vaccination rate is currently 2.4%. Guatemala recently received from the United States 36 million doses of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Prior to that, Guatemala had a contract for the delivery of 16 million doses of Sputnik V vaccines, but those have been badly delayed, prompting some officials to talk about asking for a refund from Russia.

Guatemalans age 30 and older can now register for vaccination. Long wait times are common, and there are reports of people lining up at vaccination sites by 11 p.m. to get vaccinated the next day.

As of August 11, 2021

Program Impacts

Classes are once again virtual this year for areas under red alert status, which is currently most of the country. We are seeing increased numbers of students dropping out. The main reasons are dissatisfaction with remote schooling, and the need for extra family income during these challenging times. Families of our scholarship students often work in the informal economy which has been hit hard by the pandemic.

It is unlikely that Pura Vida will be scheduling any trips to Guatemala for the remainder of 2021. Even with a fully vaccinated team, there is still the possibility of transmitting the virus to the largely unvaccinated population we work with.

We are hopeful of scheduling in-person teams again in 2022, but that depends on many factors beyond our control. In the meantime, we are planning on offering more virtual work trips as a way to get work done without us being there.

COVID-19 Pandemic update

5/21/2021

by Mark Ely

As I write this, Guatemala is still experiencing very high rates of COVID-19 infection. The state of Quiche, where our work takes place, is currently in Orange alert status. The capital, Santa Cruz del Quiche, has spent a lot of time in the Red status, the highest.

The CDC rates incidence of infection in Guatemala at the highest level, “Level 4: Very High”. This is probably due to reduction of virus mitigation measures over the last few months.

Status as of May 21, 2021

Many restrictions lifted

The Guatemalan government’s mandatory curfew was lifted on September 30. There are no restrictions on intercity or interstate travel. The Government of Guatemala announced January 25 the following changes to the operating hours of commercial establishments;

Public markets may operate from 5AM to 5PM daily
Retail establishments, including shopping malls, stores and supermarkets may operate until 7PM daily
Bars, restaurants and night clubs may operate until 9PM daily

Impact on Education

This is the only area in Guatemala still significantly affected by restrictions. In Red alert status, in-person schooling is not permitted. Until recently, students from rural communities at the Orange level attended in-person classes twice a week. That changed when the government decided that that should not be allowed at the Orange level either. So remote learning will continue for most institutions in 2021 as long as high infection rates persist.

Vaccination update

The Government of Guatemala received its first delivery of vaccine doses in February. Priority will be given to healthcare workers, first responders, and vulnerable populations. Volunteer firemen/paramedics and health care workers are currently being vaccinated.

Guatemala is receiving vaccines through COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX), a global platform to support the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. It was launched in April 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO). COVAX seeks to solve the problem of the unequal global distribution of vaccines.

81,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine are the first of a total of 6.6 million doses that Guatemala expects to receive this year through COVAX, to reach its goal of immunizing 20% of the population.

On May 4, the country began Phase 2 vaccinations, which include individuals in the 65+ age range. They are hoping to open that to 60+ soon.

When can our groups safely return to Guatemala?

Unlike many countries at the moment, the only entry requirements for Guatemala is a negative COVID-19 test within a certain timeframe. So the bar is low, and just about anyone can go to Guatemala right now if they want to. But the question is, should we?

The Guatemalan government appears to have pretty much given up on any sort of pandemic mitigation effort. In our opinion, that puts the responsibility squarely on visitors -- i.e., is traveling down there right now worth the risk of transmitting the virus to people that have become like family to us? The population we work with is especially vulnerable due to poor health and nutrition, basic living conditions, and almost nonexistent healthcare. It doesn't seem worth the risk, especially since we're currently getting our work done without putting people at risk.

Travel, especially international travel, was a key mechanism responsible for the rapid global spread of this virus. Our current thinking is that a bare minimum requirement for a team to return to Guatemala is that everyone be fully vaccinated at least a month prior to departure. There are still a lot of question marks.

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